Vending apparatus



April 11, 1939. a R. A. OFFICER 2,153,594

VENDING APPARATUS Filed June 12, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet l z-lf -s ATTOENEL/April 1939- R. A. OFFICER 2,153,694

VENDING APPARATUS Filed June 12, 1936 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 AWE/V702,

Wale/'2" .4 Officer ATTOE/VEK Patented Apr. 11, 1939 2,153.69; VENDINGAPPARATUS Robert A. Oflicer, Denver, 0010., assignor to J. P. SeeburgCorporation, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application June12,

1 Claim.

My invention relates to a vending apparatus, and an object of myinvention is to provide a novel vending apparatus which is particularlydesigned to vend frozen confections.

An object is to provide a novel vending apparatus of this class whichalthough adapted to handle frozen merchandise insures against stickingor freezing of such merchandise to the'interior of the vending machineeven though the machine may be infrequentlyoperated.

Another object is to provide a novel vending machine of this class inwhich the merchandise vended thereby is positioned in several stacks sothat the machine may be compactly built, but

still contain a relatively large quantity of merchandise.

Another object is to provide a novel vending machine of this class whichutilizes the divided arrangement of the merchandise into several stacksto advantage in agitating the contents of the stacks for the purpose ofpreventing sticking of the merchandise to each other and to thecontacting walls of the apparatus.

A further object is to provide a novel vending machine of this class inwhich the merchandise compartment is well insulated at all times so thata minimum of refrigerant is required to maintain the merchandise at thedesired temperature.

A further object is to provide a vending machine of this class whichincorporates a simple and novel coin controlled operating mechanismparticularly suited for operation of the vending gate of the machine.

A still further object is to provide a novel vending machine of thischaracter in which the working parts thereof may be easily and quicklyinspected or repaired.

Simplicity, cheapness and neatness of appear- 40 ance are other objectsand advantages.

Other objects, advantages and features of invention may appear from theaccompanying drawings, the subjoined detail description and the appendedclaim.

The accompanying drawings illustrate the invention in a form I atpresent deem preferable.

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of my vending apparatus.

Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof with a portion 50 of the cover broken awayto illustrate the manner in which the refrigerant compartment lid orcover is retained in place.

Fig. .3 is an enlarged transverse sectional view through the vendingmachine taken on line 33,

55 Fig. 1.

1936, Serial No. 84,842

Fig. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of one of the cover retainerlatches.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view taken on irregularline 5-5, Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken parallel to Fig. 3 and justinside the end wall of the vending machine substantially along the line66, Fig. 5. v

Fig. '7 is a detail sectional view on line '|l, Fig. 6 showing the lostmotion connection in the coin controlled operating mechanism of thevending machine.

Fig. 8 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 8--8, Fig. 5,looking in the direction of the arrows and showing the operatingmechanism in plan.

Fig. 9 is a detail sectional view on enlarged scale, of the operatingmechanism taken on line 9-9, Fig. 6 and showing particularly thepositioning device tending to move the parts into proper position for asucceeding operation.

Fig. 10 is another detail sectional view on enlarged scale, of theoperating mechanism taken on line Ill-ll, Fig. 6 and showing the coinoperated release for permitting operation of the vending machine whenthe proper coin has been inserted. Parts have been broken away to exposeconstruction otherwise hidden.

The vending machine is enclosed in a metallic shell or casing l ofgenerally rectangular form and open at the top and bottom. At the topthe casing is provided with an inwardly offset lip I' adapted to receivea complementary outer cover 2. The bottom is provided with an inturnedflange 3 which receives a base plate 4 of wood or the like.

Resting by their lower edges on the base plate 4 and extendingtransversely thereof within the shell I are two rectangular end plates 5and G. The outer or remote sides of the end plates are covered by blocksof insulation 1 and 8, such as balsa wood. The insulation block 1completely fills the space between the end plate 5 andcorresponding endwall I of the shell, except for a distance to clear the lip I, while achamber l 0 is provided between the insulation block 8 and. the otherend wall 8' of the shell for a coin receiving and operating mechanism Ato be described later.

The end plate 5 is provided with a bearing element 9 adapted to supportone end of a vending gate shaft H. The other end of the shaft H extendsthrough the end plate 6 and insulation block 8 into the chamber In. Theside of the insulation block 8 which defines a wall of the chamber I0 iscovered by a metal U-shaped panel 2 which is attached by screws l3extending through the insulation block into the end plate 6. A bearingelement l4 for the shaft I is mounted on said panel l2.

Between the confronting sides of the end plates 5 and 6 a vending gateI5 is secured to the shaft II. The vending gate I5 is in the form of acylinder madefrom insulating material such as balsa wood and has journalinserts IS in its ends suitably keyed to the shaft The vending gate isadapted to vend alternatingly or successively from two or moremerchandise magazines arranged axially along the vending gate as shownbest in Fig. 5. Two tiers of axially disposed magazines are shown, andin such case the vending gate is provided with two diametricallydisposed pockets, recesses or channels H which are axially offset withrespect to each other.

Each pocket or channel I1 is preferably rectangular in longitudinal areaand square in transverse section and is adapted to receive and dispensea substantially cylindrical article of merchandise indicated at B in thedrawings. At least two walls of each pocket areprovided with a pair ormore of ribs l8, preferably triangularin crosssection so that thesurface contact between'the merchandise and pocketjsminirnized; Thismaterially aids in preventing any freezing or'sticking of themerchandise in'the pockets even though the vending machinemay beinfrequently operated.

Extending between the upper edges of the end plates 5 and 8 are a pairof angle rails l9 which are offset forwardly with "respect to the axisof the vending gate. The rails I! are connected near their lower endsand at their lower centralportions by cross bars or ribs 20.

Supported by and between the cross bars 20 are a plurality ofmerchandise receiving tubes,

three such tubes being shown above each vending channel of the vendinggate and constituting a magazine. These vending tubes are arranged fromfront to rear and are designated respectively 2| 22 and 23. Each vendingtube comprises and is formed by a pair of confronting end channels 24the inner sides of which are connected by a partition member. Thepartition member 26 is corrugated and positioned between the inner endsof the channels 24 the leg portions of which form a retaining and guidewall for the articles B to be dispensed.

The rear pair of tubes 23 are positioned approximately vertically overthe axis of the vending gate I5. The middle set of tubes 22 areimmediately forward of the tubes 23 and their lower ends curverearwardly to intersect the gate at substantially radial relationtherewith and at an angle of approximately 34 thereto relative to thevertical center line of the tubes 23. The forward set of tubes 2| arestill further curved rearwardly to intersect the forward side of thevending gate above its center and at an angle of approximately 67 to theaxis of the tubes 23. With this arrangement by rotating the vending gateclockwise as viewed in Fig. 3, the merchandise in the forward stack ortube 2| is vended first, then the articles in the middle stack 22, andthe articles in the rearward tubes 23 willbe dispensed last.

It should be noted here, that the. stacks of merchandise in the severaltubesv rest on the periphery of the vending gate and in the dispensingrecess l1, consequently when the-pocket is filled with one of themerchandise and rotated past the q bes themedise in these are contactedand thus shaken or bumped, thereby breaking any adherence between themerchandise and the walls of the tubes. The corrugating of thepartitions 25 further aids in preventing sticking of the articlesthereto. Insulating blocks 3| and 32 preferably of balsa wood are fittedaround theforward and rear sides of the vending gate 5. These blocks,are provided with semi-cylindrical faces which confront the vendinggate and are separated at their upper sides by the several vendingtubes. The lower portions of the insulating blocks 3| and 32 define avertical discharging slot 33, preferably intersecting the vending gatediametrically opposite from the middle vending tubes and thereforerearwardly and below the axis of the vending gate as shown best in Fig.3. The insulating blocks 3| and 32 are spaced upwardly from the bottomplate 4. A chute or guide 34 extends from the slot 33 to the forwardside of the shell I where the articles dispensed may be easily reachedthrough a hand opening 35.

The confronting arcuate surfaces of the insulating blocks 3| and 32receive sealing elements 36 preferably formed of yieldable sheetmaterial from which extend radially inwardly directed ribs 31-engageable with the periphery of the vending gate l5 to form a pluralityof dead. air spaces. Similarly, the end insulating blocks 5 and 6 areprovided with sealing elements 38 having axially directed horizontallydisposed ribs 39 which engage the ends of the vending gate I5, as bestshown in Fig. 5.

End walls 4| and side walls 42 of insulating material, such as balsawood, surround the merchandise magazines forming an insulatedcompartment 43 therefore, which is slightly larger than the vendingtubes to permit circulation of a chilling medium. The upper end of thecompartment 43 is lined by a metal frame 44 having an outwardly flangedupper end bearing a depending lip forced into the upper edges of theinsulation walls 4| and 42. The upper ends of these walls are stepped toreceive a correspondingly stepped door 45. Yieldable insulation orpacking material 46 may be interposed between the confronting surfacesof the walls and door around each stepped surface thereof.

The upper ends of the vending tubes 2|, 22, and 23 may be tied togetherby cross bars 41. Resting on top of the tubes and loosely fitting in thecompartment 43 is a receptacle 43 adapted to receive a refrigerant, suchas dry ice,

The upper step of the insulating walls 4| and 42 may be capped by aframe 49 to which is secured at the mid-portion of each side, a latchelement 50, as best shown in Fig. 4. The latch element incorporates asecuring base 5|, and an upright web 52 and an overhanging lug 52' thatprovides a lateral and horizontal notch 53. The notches 53 of the twolatch elements are mounted on the frame 49 to face in oppositedirections so that a bar 54 of spring material may be disposed acrossthe door 45 and swing into latching or unlatching positions as shownbest in Fig. 2.

The vending gate is controlled by an operating mechanism A disposed inthe chamber ID. The shaft protrudes into the chamber l0 and its extendedend receives a ratchet wheel 6| which is engaged, by a pawl 62 formed atthe end of an arm which overhangs the ratchet wheel and rests thereon.The other end of the arm is journalled from abracket 620 secured to anangularly bent portion O'lfofthe panel [2.

Inwardly from'the ratchet wheel 3| the shaft II is provided with a bevelgear 68 which is engaged by a pinion gear 64 mounted on the end of adrive or operating shaft 65 which extends forwardly at right angles tothe shaft ll through the forward side of the casing I and is thereprovided with a handle 66. To provide free movement between the handleand the vending gate l5, the pinion gear 64 is provided with diametricalslots 61 as shown best in Fig. 7, which receives a pin 68 extendingthrough the shaft 65 and forms a drive connection between gear 64 andshaft 65.

The shaft 65 is journalled by brackets 69 and 69' extending into thechamber I6 from the panel l2 and also by a laterally bent portion 16 ofthe panel l2 at the forward extremity thereof adjacent the front wall ofthe casing l. Adjacent the bracket 69 the shaft 65 is provided with acoin operated wheel ll having a deep coin receiving channel 12 borderedby flanges 13. The flanges are provided at a common point in theirperipheries with a notch 14 which is adapted to be engaged by a catcharm 15. The catch arm is journallcd from the bracket 68 by a pin I6 andextends laterally then vertically downwardly therefrom to its extremitywhich is hooked to engage the notches 14 as shown best in Fig. 10. Aleaf spring 15a presses downwardly on the lateral portion of the catcharm to insure engagement of the arm 15 in the notch 14. At a pointdiametrically opposite from the notches 14 the base of the channel 12 isprovided with a flattened or deepened portion 11.

Above the shaft 65 there is provided a conventional coin receivingdevice 18 adapted to deliver a coin G into the chamber Ill. The coinfalls from the device 18 into a small hopper 19 which in turn depositsit in the channel 12 behind the catch arm 15. Thereupon rotation in aclockwise direction of the shaft 65 causes the coin to wedge behind thecatch arm 15 and raise it from the notches 14 so as to permit continuedmovement. The coin stays behind the catch arm until the wheel II hasmade a half turn whereupon the flattened portion permits the coin todrop by the arm 15 and into a coin box 86. The coin box 86 is preferablypositioned on a door 8! suitably fitted in the adjacent end wall of thecasing and the door 8| is secured to the housing by suitable latch andlock means D. The door 8| extends over a sufliclent area of the end wall8' to provide for easy access to the mecha- It is believed the operationof my novel vending device is apparent from the foregoing detaildescription and the flattened side F of the cam wheel 82 due tooperation of the traversing arm 83 operating thereon always positionsthe drive shaft 65 at a predetermined point so that the coin C will beproperly positioned to the arm 15 as well as to. properly position thepockets I1, and to properly position the notch 14 and arm 15 for asucceeding operation.

The lost motion connection 6! and 66 between the drive shaft 65 and thepinion gear permits a slight rocking movement of the shaft II andvending gate l5 so as to insure proper delivery of an article B to bedispensed into the discharging slot 33.

The ratchet wheel 6| and pawl 62 cooperate to provide a non-reversingmechanism for the shaft I I and the arm 15 and notch 14 cooperate toprevent a forward operation until released by a coin C.

As the gate l5 rotates and an article B is received in the pocket I!further operation of the vending gate l5 causes the articles remainingin the stacks to be slightly elevated or bumped" and such action tendsto release any adherence of the article with the side walls of the chuteor with each other, thereby insuring dispensing of a refrigeratedarticle.

In operation of the device after the pawl 15 is released by a coin Crotation of the handle 66 will not at first impart movement to thepinion gear 64 due to the lost motion connection 61 and 68 and uponcompleting a dispensing operation the flat surface F on cam wheel 82will be moved to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 9 whereuponupon releasing the manual tension applied to drive shaft 65 the spring85 operating through traversing arm 83 upon the flattened surface F willcause a slight reversed movement of drive shaft 65 thereby properlypositioning the notch 14 and arm 15 as well as the vending gate l5 forsubsequent operations.

I claim:

In a refrigerated vending machine, a plurality of magazines havingcommon side walls between adjacent pairs thereof, said side walls beingformed with longitudinal corrugations for minimizing the contact ofcontained merchandise therewith, means to maintain said magazines belowthe freezing point, a dispensing gate mounted for rotation adjacent thedischarge ends of the magazines to empty them in predetermined order,said gate being formed with package receiving pockets, supporting ribsin each such pocket constituting a cradle upon which the receivedpackage is held out of contact with the wall of the pocket andprojecting beyond the periphery of the dispensing gate, and means forrotating said dispensing gate, whereby the package received therein isoperative to move the packages in the several magazines and thereby tobreak the ice which freezes them to the sides of the respectivemagazines.

ROBERT A. OFFICER.

